Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Fellow Owners
I have placed myself in a bind through my own ineptitude.
I replaced my distributor cap on my 1954 Clipper Super 327ci L8. I replaced the wires out of proper order on the cap (a senior moment).
I have the firing order from the service manual 1-6-2-5-8-3-7-4. The bottom surface of the cap has a molded notch that allows
the distributor cap to only be seated in one specific orientation. But you know all this.
My question(s)...
I'm doing this single-handedly. Is there an easy (idiot proof) way to determine into which hole the number one cylinder wire
gets seated? (I'm assuming the number one cylinder is the most forward one on the engine).
Does the distributor turn clockwise or counter-clockwise on this engine? Once I find the correct position on the cap to
place the number one wire, then I can seat the next plug wire (in this case the wire for number six cylinder) into the hole
next to the number one wire, either right or left of it, depending on distributor turn direction.
I appreciate your guidance on this issue, since I cannot get the car to run at this time.
Kind Regards


[UPLOADING IMAGE.... PLEASE WAIT]

The dist rotates counter clockwise and wiring diagram shows the number 1 hole at approximately the 7:00 position IF the oil pump and distributor was installed per the instructions in the service manual. If the oil pump was installed with the gear off a tooth or two then obviously the dist will be too and hole will be moved accordingly.




If there is any question on whether the distributor is installed correctly and another hole might be #1 you can try setting the engine as the SM instructions call for when installing the dist if the engine was rotated after dist was removed. Put the rotor on and then see which hole the end of rotor will be pointing to. After finding the new spot then place the wires in the correct order starting from that hole.

It is possible to have the distributor in any position as long as the #1 hole is found and others used accordingly but if the dist is not positioned fairly close to factory spec the vacuum advance location and tube limits could hit or bind on something. If that happens turning the dist could be an issue and could prevent moving the dist enough for proper timing.

YOU'RE AWESOME! THANKS FOR THAT SPEEDY REPLY. PLEASE STOP BY FOR A COCKTAIL WHEN YOU'RE IN TITUSVILLE, FL.
Kind Regards
Warren

Quote:

Stick a penny on the #1 cylinder hole after removing the plug. Bump the engine with the starter until you see the penny flutter then stop immediately when the penny no longer moves. Then you are at #1 TDC.

Keep in mind that if the oil pump, which has the gear that drives the distributor, has ever been removed the rotor might not still be in the proper position so be sure to follow Pgh Ultramatic"s advice to determine where TDC is. The firing order won't change, of course, but where #1 goes on the rotor could be quite different than that of the diagram.